Lever Horizontal Leg Press
The horizontal leg press is a staple leg-day machine, letting you overload the quads, glutes and hamstrings safely with back support.
Equipment
Machine
Difficulty
intermediate
Sets & reps
3-4 sets · 10-15 reps
Muscles worked
Quads, Glutes, Hamstrings
A horizontal leg press machine that lets you push heavy loads through a supported, controlled range of motion for the entire lower body.
How to do it
- Sit in the machine with your back against the pad and feet on the platform, shoulder-width apart.
- Release the safety and lower the platform by bending your knees toward your chest.
- Lower until your knees reach roughly 90 degrees.
- Press through your feet to extend your legs back to the starting position.
- Avoid locking your knees out hard at full extension.
Coaching tips
- Keep your lower back flat against the pad — if it lifts, you've gone too deep.
- Adjust foot placement (higher for glutes/hamstrings, lower for quads) to shift the emphasis.
- A good option for training legs heavy with less balance demand than a squat.
Common mistakes
- Lowering the platform so far the lower back lifts off the pad.
- Locking the knees out hard at the top of every rep.
Frequently asked questions
How much weight should I use on the leg press?
Since the machine supports your back, many lifters can handle more total weight than on a squat — but prioritize full, controlled range of motion over maximum load.
Start tracking your workouts free
GymMonster is free on iOS and Android — or open it right inside Telegram, no download needed. Log your first set in under a minute.
